‘Lest we forget’: A long and painful walk through a dark, painful past

THE painful histories of those who were displaced from Claremont and Newlands communities as well as the legacy of martyr Imam Abdullah Haron will be commemorated tomorrow.

As South Africans will be celebrating Heritage Day in various ways, the Claremont Main Road Mosque (CMRM) and the St. Saviour's Anglican Church will lead the second Walk of Remembrance.

The first congregants of the mosque and the church were removed from these neighbourhoods during the forced removals of the 1960s.

Former residents who will be joined by their descendants will remember their loss after being forcibly removed from the area because of the colour of their skin.

Anti-apartheid icon Haron will also be honoured, following an announcement earlier this month that an inquest into his death would take place in an open court at the Western Cape High Court from November 7 to 18.

The Imam, 45, died in police detention on September 27, 1969 after 123 days in solitary confinement. An autopsy revealed 26 bruises and wounds on his body. However, at the 1970 inquest the police claimed the bruises were caused of a fall down the stairs.

His family have since been fighting for the truth.

Haron's daughter Fatiema Haron-Masoet said: “The reopening of the inquest will be a poignant moment.

“The Imam Haron Foundation will also be part of the walk. Our Martyrs constitute as to who we are and by commemorating their legacy is a reminder that we shall never forget.

“This walk is a historical moment in history to remind ourselves, our families and the future generations what once we were forcibly removed from our homes because of group areas act.

“This was one of the barbaric acts to remove people from their homes and communities during the early sixties.”

Russell Dudley, 63, from St. Saviour's Anglican Church said he will speak about the 1961 Newlands and 1972 evictions.

to the professor is that, indeed, he is a legal person and, secondly, indeed he is an independent commentator and, therefore, he is somebody you would say has challenges in how he does his work.”

Despite this, she said she had no doubt that the candidates appointed to the panel were people of integrity.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the candidates selected are fit and proper persons, are people knowledgeable legally, and are people whose integrity is unquestionable,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.

The panel is a response to the motion tabled by African Transformation Movement leader Vuyo Zungula after former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser lodged a criminal complaint alleging Ramaphosa had committed serious crimes.

These included bribery, money laundering, kidnapping, breaching of customs and excise laws, breaching of Sars regulations, contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, and defeating the ends of justice.

ATM said in its motion that Ramaphosa had violated the Constitution, which provides that cabinet members should not “undertake any other paid work”.

The GOOD party, which nominated Calland, has motivated for him to remain on the panel.

Mapisa-Nqakula has since sought legal advice on the implications of Calland being removed from or kept on the panel.

“That legal opinion has since come back and, of course, I will act on the advice given to me,” she said.

Mapisa-Nqakula also said the legal opinion had advised that Parliament should consider other available candidates should it continue to receive the names of people to fill the third vacancy.

“I will make a pronouncement, perhaps not later than tomorrow, (about) what we are going to do and the replacement of Professor Calland,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.

She said she would not come back to parties to communicate her decision, as the rules did not provide for that.

“The point is (that) we cannot delay this process any further.

“The rules give 30 days within which they (the independent panel) should complete the work and submit it to the Speaker,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.

She noted with concern that a number of the nominees were not available to serve on the panel for various reasons.

“A number of those who were nominated were completely taken by surprise when we approached them,” she said.